New York

Saturday 14th July, 2001

We woke up at 5am to birds chirping - we are in a residential area of New Jersey, a place called Griggstown. However, there are plenty of trees and gardens and a lovely place to live.

Around 8am Jim, Rayls and I started out for New York City about 45 minutes away. We stopped off for a McDonald’s breakfast and then it was through the Lincoln Tunnel and parked in the Hipperdrome Car Park.

Walked up 5th Avenue and checked out the CBS and NBC studios. Then it was on to 59th Street and Central Park. We rode a Horse Cab through the park. We caught the subway to Strawberry Fields at 72nd Street and also checked out the Dakota Building, site of the John Lennon killing.

We then caught a cab to Madison Square Garden and the on the Subway again to Battery Park. Here we found long lines to get a ferry ticket. Then there was a long line for the ferry which took us to Liberty Island. More long lines to get into the statue, we met up with a lovely family from Georgia which helped pass the time. We could only get to the 10th level of the statue which is about the level of the feet.

After our visit it was another long line to the ferry. Stopped off at Ellis Island, site of where the migrants first landed when arriving in the USA. Ferry back to Battery Park and then subway back to 72nd Street where we ate dinner at a pavement diner.

Subway back to the Empire State Building - more long lines, I fell asleep standing in line. There is a great view, can see planes from 3 major airports lined up in the sky to land. Amazing!

Then it was back to the car where we had a long wait and eventually drove off without paying.

We got back to Griggstown at 1:30am - great day.

Sunday 15th July, 2001

Another long day!

Up early and on our way with Jim and Bette. Hour an a half drive to West Point where we had a quick look around the visitors centre - another bear for Rayls - then to Inspiration Point for photos.Then it was north to Vermont. We travelled Along I87 to Albany, NY and then into Bennington, VT where we had lunch. Rayls got a free meal because they put mayo on her food. I was asked if I wanted my bread 'white, wheat or rye'. I thought she said 'white wheat or rye". So I asked for white wheat and got laughed at. It’s all new stuff to learn here in the US.

Onto Remington, VT where Rayls shopped and I had an ice-cream.

Then it was through Keene, NH and onto Tilton, NH where we checked into a Super 8 hotel. Checked out an outlet mall and had dinner at a diner. I was not feeling so good so I asked for a Caesar Salad without tomato and got just lettuce. I am refusing to say tomato with an American accent and that attracts a good laugh as well.

390 miles today - we saw a lot and had fun.

Monday 16th July, 2001

Another long day.

Up early and on our way with Jim and Bette. Hour an a half drive to West Point where we had a quick look around the visitors centre - another bear for Rayls - then to Inspiration Point for photos.

Then it was north to Vermont. Along I87 to Albany, NY and then into Bennington, VT where we had lunch. Rayls got a free meal because they put mayo on her food. Gary was asked if he wanted his bread 'white, wheat or rye'. He thought she said 'white wheat or rye". So he asked for white wheat and got laughed at. All new stuff to learn here in the US.

Onto Remington, VT where Rayls shopped and Gary had an ice-cream.

Through Keene, NH and onto Tilton, NH where we checked into a Super 8 hotel. Checked out an outlet mall and had dinner at a diner. Gary not so good so he asked for a Caesar Salad without tomato and got just lettuce. Gary refuses to say tomato with an American accent that attracts a good laugh as well.

390 miles today - we saw a lot and had fun.

Tuesday 17th July, 2001

Up early and had a breakfast of hotel donuts and then on to Highway 3 and 25 and on to Meredith, New Hampshire.

Arrived at Center Harbor at 8:20am and checked out the supermarket waiting for Keepsake Quilting to open at 9:00am.

Jim and I went back to Meredith to use the internet cafe. Rayls spent about an hour and a half at Keepsake Quilting and bought lots of goodies.

From Center Harbor it was back through Meredith and Manchester and into Massachusetts.

Then it was S495, the W290, the Mass Turnpike at Auburn and I84 into Connecticut. Past Hartford, CT over the Trogs Neck Bridge and onto Long Island. Headed to Huntington, got lost and asked a Suffolk County Police Officer for directions and gave him a WA police patch.

About 6pm we visited Harry Chapin's gravesite - it was 20 years and 1 day since his death.

It was then to Hechler Park for the rededication of the Flowers Amphitheatre in honour of Harry. Met Harry's widow Sandy Chapin and saw Josh Chapin again.

On stage Tom Chapin sang kids songs - had two band members one of which wrote the Entertainment Tonight theme.

The we bypassed NYC as we headed back to Griggstown. 441 miles today, it was a biggie.